What is Hypermiling?
Hypermiling is driving your car in an attempt to exceed the EPA fuel economy for your vehicle. This can be done through efficient driving, engine modification, and other modifications and practices pertaining to your vehicle.
Lets look at what hypermiling can do for your vehicle. Here is our example vehicle and example gas pricing:
- Distance traveled: 200 miles
- $2.50/Gal (example gas price)
- 20 Mpg EPA cost: $25
- 35 Mpg Hypermiling: $14.29
As you can see, hypermiling can save you some serious money. if you drove 200 miles per week, you would save $556 dollars and burn 780 gallons less per year than without hypermiling. for every 1,300 hypermilers who can achieve this efficiency ( which is basic, by extreme hypermiler standards ) , we would save 1 million gallons of gasoline per year.
Basic Hypermiling Tips
Clean out your car - Every bit of weight you have in your car directly adds to the fuel consumption of your vehicle. In fact, if you drive by a gas station often in your daily routine, don't fill up your take to full. This is especially important for vehicles with large tanks.
Avoid drag - Roof racks create drag and can considerably reduce fuel economy. Open windows or sun roofs can also decrease the aerodynamics of your car. flow through ventilation (if possible) also helps.
Check tire pressure - In warmer climates its best to have at least the recommended tire pressure for your vehicle, and possible have the tires on the drivers side with slightly more pressure. In cold climates a slightly lower tire pressure helps your vehicle grip the road in unsafe driving conditions, just don't go more than a few PSI below recommended pressure.
Track fuel consumption - Just tracking and understanding exactly what your fuel consumption is can lead to more economic driving. There are many devices you can also add to monitor and track your fuel consumption.
Understand Wind conditions - Headwinds and Crosswinds are bad (Duh!), if avoidable take a route where buildings or trees reduce crosswinds. DO NOT Draft closely to larger vehicles, it is not safe for anyone. In higher traffic levels take advantage of the localized air current created by the many vehicles traveling in the same direction as you.
Avoid Idling your car - Idling your car consumes far more fuel than most peaple realize. If your going to be stopped for more than 10 seconds its best to turn your car off (average fuel injection car takes equal amount of fuel to start as approx 7 seconds of a car idling). On the other hand, turning your car off and on can wear on the starter eventually.
Brake as little as possible - The less you use your brakes, the less you'll need the accelerator. Look ahead, are you accelerating towards a red light? Do what you can to time out lights so that you stop as little as possible. when approaching a red light: one lane has a honda civic , and the other lane has a mack truck, coast into the lane behind the Honda civic, you'll be less likely to need to stop or slow down for the vehicle if the light changes to green.
Careful with the Cuise control - Cruise control is not always the best way to be fuel efficient. Only use the cruise controls when on very flat terrain. Hypermilers decelerrate up hills and accelerate down hills (provided there isn't a traffic light at the bottom of the hill). Cruise contols are set to do just the opposite.
Plan your errands farthest first - driving to your first stop first will give your car a chance to warm up to maximum fuel economy. Also, it is best (where applicable) to drive in a clockwise circle, taking as few left turns as possible. It will save you time, and your car will not be idling at lights as long.
Turn off the AC - When your air conditioner is set to MAX you could be losing 5 -30% of your fuel efficiency. Using flow through ventilation is a plus, but still avoid driving with your windows rolled down, unless your driving at low speeds where wind friction is negligible.
Its an interesting and creative process, but its an accumulation of small changes. These few techniques alone could save upwards of 10-15 MPG when used regularly. More information is soon to come on taking care of your car's engine and adding fuel consumption monitors to your car.
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